Did you hear about what happened last weekend? Did you hear what he did? Did you hear about her? Small-town gossip is inevitable. It is no secret that Larue County has had its fair share of drama. It all seems like fun and games until you are the one on the other side. Everyone faces hardships, whether their life looks easy on the outside or not; everyone has their struggles.  But living in such a tight-knit community, our struggles seem to be constantly placed under the spotlight. This can amplify our struggles and make it harder to keep positive attitude about life. Regardless, it is absolutely vital to stay on the sunny side when combating our demons. But how do we stay positive in a world which so often seems to be pouring negativity into our lives?

Personally, a place I find to be the most uplifting and positive environment in Larue County High School is in Mrs. Sidebottom’s room. This year I have worked as teacher’s aid in this classroom and it has been my favorite class of the day. I would consider this classroom to be my “happy place” in school. When I feel upset or sick, I know it only takes a shot trip to visit the teachers and students in this room to cheer me up. I attribute the fun-attitude and positive vibes to the students who I have been a blessing to my life. I love working with each and every student. One student who always has something positive and interesting to tell me is Shelly England. Upon interviewing Shelly, I found several amazing pieces of advice for staying on the sunny side.

[Insert photo of Mrs. Sidebottom’s Class & caption]

Question: How do you stay happy?

Shelly: I dance!

Staying active can lead to long-term and short-term positive effects. In the short term, exercising releases endorphins in your brain, leading to a sense of pride and accomplishment. In the long-term, being active leads to feeling fit and more self-confident. Furthermore, being active in sports or personal exercise can be a good outlet for anger management.

[Insert personal anecdote caption and cheer photo to demonstrate my athletic outlet]

Question: Who makes you happy?

Shelly: My brother [Robert England] makes me happy.

Whether it’s your brother, best friend, or a teacher who makes you smile, surrounding yourself with people who make you happy is vital to staying on the sunny side. Negative people can be dark clouds which make bad situations seem worse. This doesn’t mean you have to cut ties with every negative person you know. This is high school, and everyone can seem negative when stressed out  But by making an effort to stay around people who positively reinforce your life, your happiness will be easier to maintain.

[Insert photo of Shelly and Robert]

Question: What do you do to stay positive?

Shelly: I like to read books and say nice things to others.

Often the energy we put out into the world is the energy we receive back. Some days when things go wrong again and again, it puts us in a foul mood which can lead to more conflict and our lack of positive communication skills can make our day worse. People need constant positive reinforcement in their lives to feel secure, so genuine compliments and being nice to others will make those around you feel better. Giving positive energy to those around you will not only make you feel good, but will cause more positive energy to come back to you in the long run.

Ultimately, there will always be struggles. We will all face hardships and trauma throughout our life which we have no control over. But by taking steps to maintain our composure and focusing on the fun aspects of life, we can keep it sunny.